Surfing America Prime Salt Creek

San Juan Capistrano, Calif. – November 17, 2010 – Surfing America, the National Governing Body (NGB) for Surfing in the United States, announces results from the third stop of the Surfing America Prime West Series. It was the culmination of a crazy week in the surf world. A week that saw the untimely departure of one of the best surfers in the world and the unlikely crowning of a 38 year old with his 10th World Champion title. Andy and Kelly both seemed to have inspired the next generation of young surfers, as their performance was off the charts at the Surfing America Prime presented by Got Milk? at Salt Creek last weekend.

It was great to see some of the new talent step out from the shadows. La Jolla’s Harley Taich was on fire in the jacking, hollow, glassy conditions. She had the knack for getting in to the best waves in the ledgey conditions and took the win in both the Girls U16 and Girls U18 divisions. Kylie Loveland made her first final in Prime, and she did it surfing up in the Girls U18 division, placing 3rd. Hawaii transplant, Tia Blanco also put in an inspired performance taking 3rd in the Girls U16 division for her first Surfing America Prime trip to the podium.

The Boys U14 division was crazy! The groms were going for barrels, high amplitude airs on knee buckling close-outs, and death floaters on the sand sucking close-out section. Thelen McKinna Worrel was torching the rights into the point with a new-found power in his backside assault. He ran away with the final taking 1st in his first Prime finals appearance.

Derek Peters. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Colt Ward. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Kadin Panesi. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Saturday afternoon saw the Boys U16 Round 1 going off in an insane combo of unexpected building SW and WNW swells. The NorCal contingent really stepped it up with the brothers Panesi, Kadin and Brogie, throwing down in some thumping hollow surf. Kadin took off on a set left off the point that shot him into a mauling right section, that he carved into the lip and then air dropped with the lip into the flats.

Taylor Clark's slob grab. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Ian Crane. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Colin Moran. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Conditions Sunday morning were a bit wonky, but things cleaned up quickly, and the Boys U18 and U16 divisions went to town. Ian Crane was especially on-point, earning the high wave score of the day in his semi-final where he did a succession of power snaps, deep barrel and close out double grab air that Surfing America Prime announcer Pete Mel said “met all the criteria; speed, power flow, variety of repertoire, with high risk maneuvers on the best waves. He had them all!” The judges agreed and awarded him a 9.17. Tanner Rozunko also displayed some amazing tweaked aerials in his surfing, advancing him to the semifinals.

Brogie Panesi. Photo: Jack McDaniel

The Igarashi family. Photo: Jack McDaniel

Kulia Doherty. Photo: Jack McDaniel

The event was capped off with an intimate and beautiful sunset paddle out to honor the memory of Andy Irons, hosted by Surfing America and the Surfrider Foundation of South Orange County.

Next up on the Surfing America Prime presented by Got Milk? schedule is Steamer Lane, Santa Cruz on January 16 & 17, 2011.